Smoke from the Mine Creek fire as pictures on Sept. 3, 2025. (Image Credit: BC Wildfire Service)

By Victor Kaisar

Wildfire Update

Wildfire smoke hindering aerial firefighting abilities as BC Wildfire tackles numerous active blazes

Sep 7, 2025 | 10:37 AM

KAMLOOPS — (UPDATE 12:00 p.m.): Smoke continues to be a challenge for crews fighting wildfires from the air in the southern and central Interior of British Columbia.

The BC Wildfire Service says smoke alters local weather patterns by acting like cloud cover, which reduces the amount of sunlight that reaches the ground and helping humidity levels remain higher.

While the smoke also keeps the temperature down, it’s not a very pleasant experience especially for people at higher risk. The smoke has led to a number of special air quality statements across much of the province.

Forecasters warn that the numerous active fires – 142 at last count – have led to widespread smoke and conditions that can change considerably by the hour.

Two out-of-control wildfires in the Cariboo-Chilcotin have led to evacuation orders for more than 800 properties, with evacuees bound for Williams Lake, Prince George, and even Kamloops.

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The Beef Trail Creek wildfire is estimated to be 106 square kilometres in size, while the Dusty Lake wildfire is around 61 square kilometres in size. The 4.6 square kilometre Taccatolie Creek wildfire, which is burning along Highway 20, has also led to some evacuation alerts in the Cariboo-Chilcotin.

Elsewhere, the Mine Creek wildfire along the Coquihalla Highway is still burning out of control at around 30-square kilometres in size, but the highway corridor is open with a travel advisory in effect.

The BC Wildfire Service says lower temperatures and higher humidity has led to a decrease in fire activity. It noted the fire has been burning at Rank 1 and Rank 2 – a smouldering ground fire to a low vigour surface fire.

“Thunderstorms with precipitation may develop over the fire this afternoon,” it said in a Sunday morning update. “Thunderstorms are a safety consideration for our crews as gusty, erratic winds can result in increased fire behaviour and heavy downpours, which can make highways and back roads wet and slippery.”

There are 46 firefighters working on this fire, along with 15 structure protection personnel, eight helicopters, and six piece of heavy equipment. An Incident Management Team has also been assigned to this lightning-caused fire.

– With files from The Canadian Press